Algeria Integrated Phosphate Project: Implementation Launching in Early 2022

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Projet de phosphate intégré de Tebessa : la réalisation du projet lancée début 2022

La réalisation du projet de phosphate intégré de Bled El Hadba Tebessa, devrait être lancée au début de l'année 2022

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Algeria Integrated Phosphate Project: Implementation Launching in Early 2022

By Drafting AE -September 13, 2021 / 20:14

The CEO of the Sonatrach group, Toufik Hakkar, said on Monday that the realization of the integrated phosphate project of Bled El Hadba (Tebessa) should be launched at the beginning of the year 2022.

The company that will carry out this project, which will cross four wilayas in the east of the country (Tebessa, Souk Ahras, Annaba and Skikda), "will be chosen by the end of the year," said Mr. Hakkar, who intervened during the Forum of the radio Channel 1.

He explained that it will be one of the three companies meeting the conditions of the specifications requiring that the partner will contribute to the financing of this project, estimated at 6 billion dollars, in addition to offering advantageous conditions for the Algerian economy. .

Following the signing of the partnership contract, "the realization of the project should start at the beginning of 2022", announced Mr. Hakkar, reports the official agency APS.

In the area of processing industries, Toufik Hakkar said Sonatrach continued to carry out refining projects like the Hassi Messaoud station, with a capacity of 5 million tonnes.

This station, which "will be launched during the last quarter of the current year", should cover local demand by avoiding the importation of these products which cost the state coffers currency.

This in addition to small projects which concern the production of new fuels such as hydrogen and bio-fuels as Sonatrach wants to follow the evolution of large companies activating in the energy sector.

Hakkar explained that hydrogen and plant-based gasoline and diesel will have a "bright future", especially when the costs of producing such biofuels come down.

The other mature project is that of the polypropylene production unit in Turkey in which Sonatrach has a 34% commitment. The name of the partner who will be responsible for carrying it out "should be announced in the coming days", he said.

Regarding oil production, Mr. Hakkar referred to the delay, ranging from 6 months to a year, accused in the realization of investment projects in the field of exploration, due to the breakdown of the logistics chain caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

As a result, Sonatrach has set itself the objective of maintaining the current level of production, as it cannot be increased.

He assured that Sonatrach was working with its partners to carry out prospecting projects while avoiding additional delays.

The CEO of Sonatrach estimated, moreover, that the national gas export capacities should remain "stable" until 2030, although some projects could give more flexibility in exports, like the extension from the port of Skikda to be able to accommodate the very large boats allowing Sonatrach to penetrate the Asian and South American markets.

In addition to the project to build a special liquefied gas tank of very large capacity, still at Skikda.

In response to a question relating to the impact of corruption cases involving senior officials of the group on Sonatrach's image, Mr. Hakkar stressed that "the majority of the group's employees respect the law and regulations", reiterating its determination to improve corporate governance.

As such, he recalled the considerable improvement in the governance of Sonatrach in recent years, with the argument of the 18 places gained by Sonatrach, in three years (between 2017 and 2020), in the ranking established by a specialized American company. in the monitoring of corporate governance, moving from 65th to 47th position.